All-Ireland SHC semi-final countdown:Kilkenny v Wexford: Ian O'Riordantalks to John Meyler as he prepares Wexford for a formidable test

Wexford hurling manager John Meyler is embracing the mindset of an alcoholic ahead of their championship rematch with Kilkenny next Sunday. Without ever suggesting he has or ever has had a drink problem, Meyler believes Wexford need to overcome a demon of another sort before they can make real progress.

Last Sunday's quarter-final win over Tipperary was a turning point in their season and Meyler is far from content to leave it at that. "I would see it like being an alcoholic," he says, "in that we have to face up to our demons. We just didn't play well against Kilkenny in the league semi-final, and again in the Leinster final. We have to face up to that, act on that, go out and put it up to them on Sunday.

"The reality is, and everyone knows it, that if you want to be competitive in hurling and compete for All-Irelands then you have to face up to the likes of Kilkenny, be as strong as you can. And that's our feeling on this. So I could say that I'm happy enough with the progress we've made now, beating Tipperary. Or I could say we're 70 minutes away from an All-Ireland final. And 140 minutes away from winning it. But that's just me, because I look on the positive side all the time."

Meyler is happy his team showed a lot more of their capabilities against Tipperary: "I think the players know they put in a more balanced performance on Saturday, that they were a different kind of animal from the previous two games. We lost Rory McCarthy and Mitch Jordan and that didn't help but the team definitely faced up to the challenge. And they'll need to do that again on Sunday.

"Even in that Leinster final we had six or seven positives. Against Tipperary there were 11 or 12 positives. If we can get 13 or 14 positives on Sunday then we'll see where we're at.

"Hopefully we'll also have learnt from our league and from our Leinster final against Kilkenny, that we can play much better. The hurlers are there, that's for sure. It's down to the mental approach now. And this is a totally different tournament from the Leinster championship, a totally different ball game."

Kilkenny, in other words, are under greater pressure to succeed given their immediate exit should they lose. In fact Wexford are under no pressure at all, especially given their semi-final is effectively the undercard to the quarter-final replay between Cork and Waterford - a decision, by the way, which Meyler welcomes.

"I'm actually delighted with the fixture. First of all we get to play at two o'clock again, which means we'll follow the exact same routine as last Saturday. It's a lot better than waiting around all day for the second match, at four.

"And I've no problem sharing Croke Park with the Waterford and Cork replay. They're on after us and we won't be worrying about them, and whether it's going to go to extra time or not. In ways it helps us to focus on our own game."

And Meyler is clearly focused on Kilkenny again. He's been carefully dissecting their most recent display against Galway, watching the first 20 minutes of the match video at 6.30 in the morning, digesting that for a few hours, watching another 10 minutes or so, and coming back to it again over the course of the day.

"Sure look, Kilkenny were awesome. And sure they have been all year. They're just in cruise control, a fantastic team of athletes. Just look at last Sunday. They take off two of their half backs, Brian Hogan and JJ Delaney, and replace them with James Ryall and John Tennyson, two All Stars. That's the kind of train they have going right now."

Wexford, as it turned out, looked to their former All Star and most experienced player last Sunday to guide them home, when goalkeeper Damien Fitzhenry - now a veteran of 165 appearances for the county - ran up the field to convert the 21-yard free that sank Tipperary hearts, while warming all of those in Wexford.

Meyler reflects on that move as a classic team decision: "Well, I'd told Barry Lambert to go for the point when it was at the angle. But when it was moved into the middle Barry had the sense to take his time, and at that stage I called up Damien, who was more than ready for it. But Damien has really shown great maturity this year, and great leadership again. This is my first year in charge, and he's been there for the last 15. And you really can learn from him. I may be a lot older but he's been teaching me a thing or two."